Well, what can you do when you mis-predict the outcome of the South Carolina Democratic Primary? Drink Champagne, of course!

Found an outstanding bottle of Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 1988 for $99.99 and had to buy it. (WAY under priced for such a bottle.)

Congrats to Senator Obama on his win in South Carolina.

My predictions for South Carolina tomorrow:

Sen. Hillary Clinton - 38%
Sen. Barack Obama - 36%
John Edwards - 26%

*Record turnout for Democrats in yet another primary.

Don't get me wrong, I certainly like both Sens. Clinton and Obama and I think both would make outstanding presidents for this country. I just think that one should perhaps precede the other, in large part, due to their experience.

The back and forth between the Clinton and Obama camps since New Hampshire shouldn't be taken as something odd, extraordinary, or spectacular. I mean, we are in a primary campaign for the presidential nomination, are we not? Candidates and their surrogates are going to "go after" one another. One can't suggest that the campaigns were going to quietly hold hands and let the voters decide without persuasion from one or the other, right?

And yet, we have an Obama camp that is crying foul over recent statements made by President Clinton. This is the same President Clinton who's wife is now running (against Obama) for the presidency. Furthermore, we have members of Congress, one Jim Clyburn, suggesting that President Clinton needs to "chill on Obama."

Am I missing something? If these cries by the Obama camp are truly heart felt then my reasons for basing my vote on experience have just been validated without question. Anything the Clinton camp dishes out under the watchful auspices of the DNC will surly be candy-coated marshmallows compared to what the republicans will ram down the throat of the American public when it comes to the general election. If Obama can't fend off President Clinton's poking then it's not yet time for him to join the scorched battleground that we fondly refer to as a presidential election cycle.

Favorable views of the U.S.
Britain in 1999/2000: 83% in 2007: 51%
Turkey in 1999/2000: 52% in 2007: 9%
Indonesia in 1999/2000: 75% in 2007: 29%

Gallon of gas
Week of January 22, 2001: $1.47
Week of January 14, 2008: $3.07

Sales of Ford Explorer SUV
Sold in 2000: 445,000
Sold in 2007: 137,817

Sales of Toyota Prius Hybrid
Sold in 2000: 5,562
Sold in 2007: 181,221

Military deaths
2000: 758
2006: 1,875

Hispanic population of America
2000: 35.3 million
2006: 44.3 million

Americans who are Democrats or leaning that way
In 2001: 45%
In 2007: 50%

Americans who are republicans or leaning that way
In 2001: 41%
In 2007: 35%

Federal Budget surplus/deficit
$230 billion surplus in 2000
$164 billion deficit in 2007

National debt
$5.73 trillion on January 19, 2001
$9.2 trillion on January 7, 2008

Are you better off after seven years of republican leadership? Is the United States?

Who's up for a third term of the shrub administration? Because they can't wait to give it to you.

All statistics from the St. Petersburg Times, January 20, 2008, Perspective, 1P, 6P.